⚖️+👀 in Belfast!@mickconlan11 - 125.6 lbs
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 2, 2019
Diego Alberto Ruiz - 124.8 lbs#ConlanRuiz | TOMORROW | @ESPN+ 5PM ET pic.twitter.com/0TW3qenoKZ
HEADLINER AND HOMECOMING act Michael Conlan [11-0, 6KOs] tipped the scales four tenths of a pound under the featherweight limit as he weighed in for his Féile clash with Diego Alberto Ruiz in a specially designed, 10,000-seat outdoor arena at Falls Park.
Conlan, who grew up nearby and faces the Argentinian in Saturday’s main event (BT Sport/ESPN+), was significantly heavier than Ruiz (124.8) but looked far more chiseled than he has at his weigh-ins for recent bouts.
Victory for the 27-year-old over the 21-2(10KOs) South American will edge him closer to world-title contention, with the Falls Road feather already ranked fifth by the WBO, sixth by the WBA, and 12th by the IBF.
To a raucous atmosphere, Conlan and Ruiz faced off and exchanged words, but through smiles, before exiting stage left ahead of tomorrow night’s showdown.
.@mickconlan11 is no stranger to fighting in Belfast’s Falls Park. But now, he’s ready to get paid for doing so for the first time, with a passionate fan base behind him. #ConlanRuiz | SATURDAY | @ESPN+ 5PM ET pic.twitter.com/ustVj2DTQF
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 2, 2019
Ahead of the chief support bout, another hometown hero in Paddy Gallagher [16-5, 10KOs] was bang on the 147-pound limit for his British and Commonwealth title showdown with Chris Jenkins of Wales [21-3-2, 8KOs].
Gallagher, in career-best shape, was six tenths of a pound heavier than the champion from Swansea.
Popular Dublin middleweight Luke Keeler [16-2-1, 5KOs] came in at 161.1 for his non-title but career-biggest bout with American Luis Arias [18-1-1, 9KOs], who was just over a third of a pound heavier.
In an all-Irish clash at super-middleweight, Steve Collins Jr [14-2-1, 4KOs] — who began his career at cruiserweight — emulated his former world-champion father in making the 168-pound limit for the first time ahead of his domestic dust-up with Belfast’s Padraig McCrory [8-0, 3KOs]. Both men weighed 167.1lbs.
Former Irish amateur standout Sean McComb [7-0, 4KOs] stepped off at 142 ahead of his clash with the concrete Frenchman Renald Garrido [24-24, 3KOs -- no stoppage defeats]. Garrido was a pound heavier for their non-title bout.
